Abstract [en]

Previous research has demonstrated a positive, but modest, relationship between knowledge about one’s own memory capabilities and objective memory performance as measured by laboratory memory tests in late life. Less is known about the relationship between subjective and objective measures across a wider range of the life span. Little is also known whether men and women differ in their abilities to estimate subjectively the actual memory capacity. We used data from a large prospective study on memory health and aging to shed light on this lack of knowledge. The results obtained show age deficits and female superiority in episodic memory completely in line with previous research. The data obtained for semantic memory are also in line with those obtained in previous research. When relating these objective measures of memory to subjective measures significant correlations were found for old participants in episodic memory, but not for younger subjects and not for semantic memory. An interesting and not previously shown result was obtained when relating the subjective experience of a change in memory function to the actual change demonstrated in objective assessment of memory. It was found that men, not women, as they become older show a growing insight of a declining memory functioning. We discuss this result involving both age and sex variables as reflecting more serious memory conditions in men that in women.